The last thing she remembers is their faces and worrying that her surge of panic would keep her from stasis. It wouldn't have been a problem if the last time she had been locked in stasis, she didn't wake to the last Prime and a dark world.
It took so much courage to step inside another pod...it took several tries. Knockout and Breakdown patiently and continually assured her that they would wake her. Sonica took some reassurance from that and having her communicator with her cloaked in black energon at her hip. Worse case scenario, the Autobots use the communicator for tracking her current location. This, they know, while her Decepticon friends do not.
It was some time, but Sonica finally nodded to Knockout, who gave her a positive smile, and climbed in. Breakdown waved with the worst poker face.
Then her mind was light enough to dream and her dreams changed to memories of walking about the Nemesis...
...Then the memories grew specific sound: hums of computers, tweets of touchkeys, and the hissing whoosh of the automatic doors. The sounds got loud enough to make her aware of her own body.
When she opens her eyes, her mind still assumes she lies in a dream. After analyzing her hands, feeling the rest of her, and the table she lays on, the sounds begin to bring her back. The last test is her voice.
"Knockout?"
His white face and bright red optics pop into view from her right, "There you are, dear. How was stasis?"
"I hated it."
"My question wasn't how you like it, but that made enough sense."
"How long?"
He gives her the update about Megatron flying off towards a "flaming mountain" then Prime storming the ship and challenging him. After the storms worsened, Soundwave couldn't locate Megatron and Arachnid pulled a treacherous move right in front of him. Soundwave stomped her for that, in a literal sense.
That made her smile. Life can be great.
Then the storms just stopped and Megatron's life signal came back on.
"The end, then?"
Knockout shakes his head, "Nuh uh, when we bridged him back aboard...well...it wasn't Megatron- not first anyway- but..."
The intercom and screens click on.
"Orion Pax is in isolation to ease him into the transition," Megatron explains and finishes: "And the first one to acknowledge him as Optimus Prime, will have their voice box torn out."
Knockout sort of throws an arm gesture with no dramatic flare to match Sonica's shock.
"Yeah. That."
"Megatron,"
He barely turns to Sonica as she walks up to the bridge, "Rest well? If not, I have no qualms putting you back in stasis."
She stops a safe distance away, "I hope you understand my withholding information as I also hope that you understand that my self-discipline against dark energon is not fail-proof."
"Is that all?"
"I'll apologize for snapping back at you under the influence of dark energon. But to be clear, I do not apologize for not telling you all the details."
Megatron turns around, "You hid it well, Sonica Doradus. Not only do I have the truth about dark energon's effects on you but I am now also aware of what an exquisite liar you are.
"I give you this warning: you do not want me to find out your secrets. You would be wise to tell me upfront.
"And as I'll accept your apology, in return, I'll give you a while to think about how and when you will tell me everything. For when Orion Pax has finished his job, I will be turning my attentions to you, dear Sonica. You have until that time before your secrets will come due.
"Is that understood?"
Sonica takes a moment to cool down; she has faced similar threats. "I want to be sure that we mutually understand to respect one another's secrets."
His gaze narrows, "I asked you a question."
"Are you going to compromise here? I'm not budging on this."
"As long as you are on my ship, you follow my rule."
"Would you rather I leave?"
Megatron smirks, "You mean you'd quit? Just like that?"
"What, exactly, do you think I'd be quitting? I'm curious."
He straightens and walks down the suspended part of the bridge, "Your choice to find more worthy sparks- sparks that belong to traitors but not not those mingled with dark energon... Yet you have no serious qualms of walking upon Unicron."
"Did you forget my answers? I'll give them again."
"They were...interesting answers."
"They were true answers." She looks up at him as he stops just micro-units away.
He gives a smirk that tells her to wait for it as he slowly circles, "You're looking for worthy sparks, and they are not among the Autobots. I know this because you save traitors. Despite your honorable front, you're still here...with me." He bends and sets his face near hers. "I know what you're really after, Doradus."
The dark aura washes over her rhythmically, like strong ocean waves as the wind picks up before a storm. Everything rushes, anxious for the approaching disaster.
Megatron notices the spell taking over and a toothy grin splits across his face-plate. He slowly reaches for her hand.
"You seek a worthy spark to carry your desires. A spark strong enough to handle you." The blades of his fingers scrape along hers with a slight, delightful ring. "You found it. I'm right here."
She reels but the hold doesn't budge. Her body won't move. The evil companion from distant memory opens his eyes, looking directly into her temptations and weaknesses.
~I'll help a little... you can thank me later.~
Megatron lifts her hand and touches it to his chest, "Here," he hovers, "Your desires, my dear Doradus. Control me, if you'd like."
Her hand flexes backwards and Megatron disappears. A clapping impact from the far side of the room is what tells the witnesses where he is. Megatron falls forwards out of the indent in the wall.
~I was going to do that.~ Murder lies with a grin and shares his true thoughts involving exploding him from the inside out.
Soundwave steps into her view and his unseen glare is felt across the way; bots behind her step backwards.
Megatron's chuckling interrupts and he lifts himself off the ground. "Still in one piece, Doradus. I am now certain that I am what you're looking for. I am worthy."
Sonica snarls, "You take 'backwards' to a whole new level. I will not warn you again: dark energon turns me. I become as evil as Unicron himself. Surely you remember your encounter with him- what makes you think it'll go better this time?"
He makes it to his feet but barely. Some soldiers brace him, "But you are not Unicron. I am not Unicron. Seperate but bonded, powerful alone but unstoppable together. Do you see it?"
Her shoulders drop, lips hang in a frown, "I see your termination...as well as mine. You have been warned."
~I hope he doesn't listen. This is cute.~
She takes a break in Knockout's lab. As she unnecessarily polished his medical tools, Murderer starts to make a home for himself in the corner of her mind. He tries to tell her he's not taking up much room, but she hears his intentions that one day he'll completely take over.
This troubles her the most and the past memories of this unwanted companion plague her, but they do provide more details. Thankfully, it wasn't just time that got rid of him, it was meditation and lack of contact with dark energon. One of those, she can actually do.
~It seems you're stuck with me until you get to Cybertron.~ He reclines, stretches, and chuckles to himself. ~IF you get to Cybertron.~
A big hand on her shoulder brings her gaze up to Breakdown.
"You alright?"
"I will be,"
~Maybe,~ he cynically adds.
"Was it the dark stuff again?"
"Basically,"
Breakdown starts to say something when Knockout rushes through the doors. He notices their staring, "Need a tool-" his tone changes, "to repair our Master who was supersonic-thrown into a wall."
Her frown is sarcastic, "You can't say he didn't deserve it though."
Breakdown dares to quietly chuckle at Knockout's stumped, but non-protesting expression.
He has the tool and waves it at her, "Femme, how many more of Lord Megatron's buttons are you going to push? Aren't you trying to keep yourself OUT of trouble?"
"Megatron pushes my buttons first. My reactions are consequences and self-defense. If he didn't push all the wrong ones, I would be more tolerant."
Knockout can't argue with that. "Fine. But you two need to stay away from the computer room by the energon storage vault. Orion Pax will be there, and we should avoid him at all costs. We don't need more trouble."
"Is he there now?" A beam of happiness makes Murderer hiss. Being around the Matrix might help!
Knockout glares at her, "I'm not answering that, and I need to run back. I've already taken too long."
She starts walking the same time he runs out. Breakdown's hand on her shoulder stops her.
"Didn't you hear what he just said?"
"Yes." She smiles at him, "Are you really going to try and stop me?"
He eyes her, "What are you going to do?"
She starts some wavy hand gestures, eluding to things being in between her fingers but nothing is there. There's a strange but pleasant crackle sound and the next time she reveals her finger span, a glowing energon gem is there.
"Wow," Breakdown's smile comes easily as he takes it from her.
The gem is hexagonal with soft points at the end. Within, it's much like an energon cube, but the inside swirls loosely. The liquid and silver-like glow moves and spins.
The enchantment suddenly bursts like a popped bubble and he looks down.
She's gone.
"Knockout's going to kill me."
"What's bookin', good lookin'?"
Orion Pax turns around, not seeing the perturbed sneer on Megatron's face as he turns with him.
"Who is this?"
She looks to Megatron who has to try and fake pleasantries, "This is Eclipse, or Sonica."
Orion's optics widen, "Eclipse, the Undergrid singer?"
Megatron almost looks impressed, "I only mentioned her once and briefly. You remembered that?"
"I had some free time after I left Kaon and returned to work."
Orion addresses her as one Cybertronian to another, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Eclipse."
"And a pleasure to meet you, Orion Pax," She reciprocates.
His smile is little but very contagious.
"Are you an old friend of Lord Megatron's?"
"Indeed."
"That's great!" She claps once as she hops to his side, "I know things have been crazy, but I think you need a proper welcome."
"He has already been debriefed on current events."
She smirks, "I mean, what better way to help him adjust than to throw a small party? Let him feel like an official part of the army."
"I'm no warrior."
"You don't have to be, trinket." She winks at him then turns to Megatron with her best begging.
"Please, Master? One small party? I haven't danced for a while."
She doesn't miss his hidden disapproval.
He looks to his old friend, "What do you think, Pax?" He begins to add more- to mention time and urgency- but she interrupts and grasps Orion's arm.
"Come on, you just got here, let's have a little fun after your ordeal." She keeps it vague as she doesn't know what Megatron has and hasn't told him.
Orion's lack of correction tells her she has the right idea; Megatron likes to tell sad stories.
And perhaps, because of that, is why he hesitates. Between Megatron's stare and her fluttering steel lashes, he's stuck in the middle of hard places. "I...suppose so?"
She takes stage and the word spreads quickly. Already, troupes are shuffling in as Orion and Megatron take seats in the VIP overhang to her right. She taps into the speakers and waits a moment as she smiles slyly at the soldiers taking spots before her; some taking them by force.
As they shift into place, she thinks about Orion Pax, the bot before Optimus. He's reserved but extremely kind and selfless. Her first song for him should match his spark.
Sonica begins with a traditional song, one sung of loyalty to their world and for those who step onto its metal ground for the first time. Her spark aches for how he must learned, all over again, about the destruction that killed their home.
She doesn't stick to the song for long, she tapers off, then sings with a few words. Then the beat drops and picks up.
Her illusions line the wall with moving pictures and cast all sorts of moving blends of color over the sheen of their body's alloy.
It's not her best theme, but it's a good one to start. Orion Pax doesn't need culture shock on top of everything else.
The sounds rattle the stage and vibrate through the floor between the waves of bass, rippling over the crowd like the neon lights. She creates a setting to compliment the lyrics describing fun memories yet to be made.. For part of the climax, she copies her image three times, each displaying different colors. Her copies take the chorus as she provides the accompanying vocalizations.
The music groans to a stop and it's just her autotuned voice. Not every bot can do that, not can they hit notes that sound like slowed strikes of lightning. Whispers are hardest because not all know that their air systems can be pumped through the voice box. If they do know, they're still practicing.
The lights dim as the song ends but she adds a seductive whisper within the transition into the next up-beat song. The images on the walls emerge and float about the crowd until the next bass-blasting song takes over.
As she weaves suggestively through a mass of created silver shadows and mirror shards, she glances up at Orion.
His focus is almost intimidating. He's unblinking and absorbing every detail he can. At one point, Megatron is trying to say something to him but Orion doesn't seem to hear. She didn't see him look away or even move his mouth.
She changes the scene on stage to a view below a spinning compact disk, for an old fashioned touch. Her copied image dances in the laser light like she floats inside a test tube.
Orion puts a finger up for Megatron.
With a smile, she changes the center piece holding the disk, to a giant hologram of herself. The disk whirls around her waist. Sonica herself, skates over the pretend surface as it spins.
She stops the music and the ship is still save the troupes cheering; some have glasses of energon.
The next song gets loud but it's not just the clapping beat and a warped whistling tune. This is a song they've heard before and have loved the teasing she added. During every chorus, as the lyrics express a desire for an unattainable lover, she weaves images of armor pieces from others, onto herself.
Sonica will wink at the crowd as she peeks under the face mask of a vehicon, then spin a fast circle and suddenly wear the shoulder spikes of Megatron's armor. Every twirl shows a new part or two at the same time. Soundwave's crown is a favorite with his matching hip piece. Knockout's feet are just as fun when she shuffles across the stage with complicated foot movements.
Of course, to honor their guest, she mimics Orion's chest design for the ending measure. She arches backwards and lets the illusion of neon lights roll over the glass before the lights go black.
The crowd cheers long into the soft number invited by the blue lights. This one, she chose special because the words describe rising from the ashes and starting anew.
For this one, she and Orion stare across the way at each other. She feels that hidden fire that made him a Prime, a beautiful spark. Sharing the moment in the rise and fall of the music, they both feel an aching hope. They can start here on earth, protect it the way they should have protected their home. Maybe they will be forgiven, and they can return to their origin. Like he used to say to her, those first two years.
The spell breaks when she resurrects a casual beat.
However, Megatron is at his patience's limit; she can see it. But a thought crosses her mind and she stops it from leaving- when she should've let it walk out. She could get away with a lot while Megatron is trying to keep face...
Sonica keeps the lights rotating and throws up an abstract back drop. She saunters onto an energon plate as the lyrics tease the bots below. She shows up suddenly between Megatron and Orion's seats.
She steps onto their little wall-lining table, startling Orion.
The troupes get excited; she hasn't done this since Starscream and she still does her best moves there before she taunts the leaders seated behind her.
Leaning on Orion Pax's shoulder, she traces a digit across the top of his windshields, sending just a soft touch of static. He quite notices.
For Megatron, she disappears and sends a hologram with some fitted bits of hardened orange energon, which will allow him to feel the image touching him.
Curiosity dare her to take it further than she probably should.
Her image caresses the edges of his helmet and leans in close. A leg lifts and lays on his thigh as a hand draws invisible lines over his chest plate.
Megatron, a bit disappointedly, takes it and plays along with a slight grin. One of his hands rise from the arm of his chair, reaching up to touch her back. It hovers just over the surface of her hologram.
Sonica's curiosity starts to drain through the holes that fear has punched into it.
For the ending measure, her image does a few tricks around his lap before standing on it for the final exclamation of the song. On the last beat, it plops onto him and disappears with the lighting.
The troupes are so loud that the lack of music isn't noticed.
Sonica still hides by Orion's chair and a sour feeling crawls in. She might have poked at a beast. Her time here might be shorter than anticipated...
Soundwave turns the regular lights on again and the troupes try no to complain; Megatron is around.
Sonica has to hide her nervousness. She leans on Orion's chair as the lights return. Megatron sees her right away with a new look in his eye. He might not know that was a hologram.
She goes through the whole list of expletives in her head.
Orion follows Megatron's stare and turns around. The sweet dear almost jumps but a sweet smile smooths it over.
"Your performance was incredible, Eclipse. This one was so different from the others I found within the Grid."
Megatron stands and Sonica tries not to notice.
"Thank you, Orion. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it." She sets a hand on his shoulder; hoping the Matrix within will calm her for the trouble ahead.
Nothing; she didn't realize... its power has been temporarily exhausted.
She forces a smile, "We'll have to do this again sometime."
Orion stands, taking her hand from his shoulder and enclosing it respectfully in both of his hands, "Most certainly."
For a moment, she forgets her nervousness and her smile is full.
"I hate to ruin the excitement," Megatron eyes her before looking to Orion, "But there is work to do."
She can see those tall shoulders of his slump, "Of course, Lord Megatron."
Sonica pats his upper arm, "We will do this again, trinket. I promise."
"How about you walk with us, Sonica?" Megatron slightly bows.
She sees right through his invitation, "Nah, I should see what chores are to be done next."
"I insist," He privately challenges and the pressure in front of Orion Pax adds to her dread. He's playing the same game she is.
But she can play it back, "Awfully generous of you; wouldn't you rather things get done?"
"I dismiss you, just this once."
She folds her arms, "How about I go check the list and bring you a glass of energon later? Forgive me?"
Orion turns to her, "I do have some questions for you, maybe you wouldn't mind hearing them as we walk?"
Oh no. She fights to backpedal out, "I wouldn't mind hearing them at all. When I'm done, I'll bring you a drink too and we'll take a break then."
Megatron chuckles, "If you know my old friend, as I do, he'll be thinking of those questions all day until you answer them. I need his full focus if we're to gain ground in this war."
She dares to look up at Pax again and he's wearing that tender, stupid smile. It pierces her spark.
Scrap, slaggin' frag. "Alright, you twist my arm."
The conversation begins the moment the three walk into the hall from the overhang. Sonica makes the walk as slow as she can because she sees Orion is really into his questions.
First one was, if she knew Moongem.
She was Sentinel's company, though no one really knew what she was to him, and Sonica replaced her soon after when she went offline. Rumor has taken all kinds of liberties from there: she was either brought back to life then hidden because of Council conspiracies or someone stole her body and jumped out the window.
"Jumped out the window" is the only correct piece of that. Sentinel tried to keep her as his personal doll and as a result, her last word to him was: Nope. But he hunted her down afterwards and she had no choice but to live with him; he owned her boss.
This was a little tough because she didn't want to watch Megatron for his approval of whatever she told him. It was a huge risk, but with how things are starting to go, she won't be here long anyway. She gives Pax the truth: Moongem was her past life before this one.
That greatly lengthened the conversation and a short glance at Megatron told her that he knew she did that on purpose. In turn, she dared to raise a brow at him to imply the phrase: suck it.
For the next couple of megacycles, there was a disguised tug-o-war between her and the warlord. She purposely kept some things vague so Orion Pax would ask, but Megatron would try a hand on his shoulder and a strained polite reminder of work.
Orion was so deeply fascinated...until his courtesy finally took over.
"I apologize, Sonica Doradus," Orion Pax sighs, "We'll have to continue another time."
Megatron frowns at the back of Orion's head.
"It's too bad," She sighs; in part to deflate some of her posturing, "You're so easy to talk to. But hey, I'll still bring the drink I mentioned- for next time."
Megatron comes around to her side and takes her hand before he opens the door to Orion's new office.
The data clerk notices the gesture and fails to pretend he didn't see it.
Sonica was afraid this would happen. None can say she didn't try to avoid it...or not. She did, kind of, invite this.
For Orion Pax's life, she avoids making Megatron look like the bad guy he really is. Optimus will be safe as long as he obeys without suspicions. For now, she's forced to stay by Megatron's side and look content about it, as he gives Orion the small tour to his new office.
Afterwards, they bid Orion Pax good luck as they exit; still holding hands. Sonica wishes so hard that Orion was Optimus; he would stop this in a sparkbeat.
They walk a fair distance away from Orion's door before Megatron whips her around and pushes her against the wall.
The impact rattles her circuitry and it takes a painful moment to refocus her senses.
"You will stay away from Orion Pax." He leans uncomfortably close to her face.
"Why? So I can tell him the truth and risk his life? Not happening. I need him online."
"Really," He drawls, "Is that for your collection of worthy sparks?"
"He is a worthy spark. The rest I will be keeping to myself. Explaining things to you has proven futile because you make scrap up."
Murderer chuckles and breathes in the aura coming off Megatron.
The warlord grins, "It does seem like a fantasy, doesn't it? Our potential together is difficult to believe."
"Death is not a difficult concept."
His wagging head disapproves and shames her.
"I know how to avoid whatever outcome you're imagining. I have a way of getting what I want."
Megatron leans closer, his helmet corners brushing her collar, "Remember that, Sonica Doradus."
He lets go and leaves her in the hallway; unable to fully move her right arm because of the slightly crushed parts. She decides to sit there for a moment, to regain her common sense.
Murderer toys with her anger. Why didn't she use her powers? She could terminate him with a flick of a finger!
He fights her reasons.
What is the purpose to a cover at this point? All the Decepticons have enough energon in them to add to the mass she carries, and she can go to Cybertron and revive it. How is a conscience helping her now? She should just destroy them. It's justice. They would be a part of Cybertron- just not in the way they would've thought. She would feel better and not have to worry about skidding around Megatron indefinitely.
When he senses her temptation, he reveals a few gruesome suggestions on extractions. Let it lift out of their optics- the life would literally drain from their eyes. Or, just for good karma, Megatron should watch what container of wrath he opened. He'll be last and he'll watch her destroy his body as she tears all his delicious dark energon out of him- drop by drop. That's how Cyberton felt!
NO!
The faces of the Autobots brighten her mind and the will to protect them silences Murderer. For the time being.
It isn't saving Cybertron if she's destroying most of its inhabitants. Her powers are good because she has a kind conscience. She doesn't want dark energon and destroying Megatron will not rid her of it. It will also keep her from uniting the two sides.
She's been here long enough to see good in the sparks around her. Knockout and Breakdown are two of many. A lot of troupes are thoughtful and loyal to one another. They keep each other out of trouble and give favors without being asked.
That's why she's here.
And that's a great reason why she doesn't just take all their energon. The other reason: she's better than that.
Murderer drums his fingers, ~We'll see about that.~
